PNoy declares national days of mourning for Robredo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines - The entire nation is in mourning from August 21 until the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo is laid to rest, President Benigno Aquino declared Tuesday.

Aquino has signed Proclamation No. 460 setting the National Days of Mourning for the late Cabinet official.

President Benigno S. Aquino III and some members of his Cabinet accompanied the remains of the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to Pili Airport, Camarines Sur on Tuesday (August 21, 2012). Photo courtesy of Benhur Arcayan/ Malacañang Photo Bureau

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in a statement, said the declaration sets August 21 until the day of Robredo's interment as National Days of Mourning.

"As provided for by law, the national flag shall be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset in all government buildings and installations in the Philippines and in our posts abroad, for a period of 6 days," he said.

Lacierda said the government's Committee on Funeral Arrangements and Burial will issue bulletins through his office regarding the wake and interment of the late interior secretary.

"This includes announcing when the 6-day period of the national flag flying at half-mast nationwide will commence," he said.

"Let us allow the Robredo family time to grieve; let us refrain from engaging in any effort to pressure them as to any details concerning the funeral and accompanying ceremonies. These will be announced at the proper time," Lacierda said.

The proclamation praised Robredo's track record in government.

It described Robredo as a "champion for good governance" and of being "instrumental in the implementation of far-reaching reforms in local governance," from his term as mayor of Naga City from 1988 to 1998 and from 2001 to 2010 up to his death as interior secretary in the Aquino administration. -- report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News